2003 Archive
Your union web source on contract negotiations

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New contract finally online, at printer
Aug. 8, 2003 - The OCSEA and State of Ohio Contract is finally available online, now that it has gone to the printer. An omission by the state in the appendices held up both the print process and the web publishing. The contract distribution process is anticipated to take place in early September. full story

Where's the new contract?
June 18, 2003 - Management and Labor are in the process of completing the final proof of the OCSEA and State of Ohio Contract. As soon as possible, OCSEA an Adobe Acrobat .PDF of the contract will be posted on the union web.

OCSEA, State engage in conciliation today
April 17, 2003 - Conciliation is taking place today at OCSEA headquarters over the exchange of last best offers for Bargaining Unit 3. full story

PEQ correction: Effective date for sick leave
April 17, 2003 - The Public Employee Quarterly contained an error with regard to the contract effective date change for the sick leave article. full story

Last best offers exchanged at table; Conciliation set for April 17
April 11, 2003 - Today was the exchange of last best offers for Conciliation between the State and the Union. OCSEA and management were also able to come to agreements on several ancillary, but important, procedural issues. full story

BU 3 members consider open enrollment materials
April 11, 2003 - Unit 3 employees are confused about why they received open enrollment material when health care is one of the issues on its way to conciliation. full story

New conciliation issue: Separate bargaining in the future - or not?
April 7, 2003 - All along, members of the union's Conciliation Negotiations Team knew that issues like pay raises, longevity, step increases, health care, etc. were going to be brought before Conciliator Rob Stein. These are the issues that were clearly points of contention during regular bargaining and in the vote that rejected the Fact Finder's recommendations. full story

Contract fate for safety-sensitive workers goes to conciliation
March 7, 2003 - Employees in safety-sensitive positions such as Corrections Officers and Juvenile Corrections Officers are prohibited from striking under the law. Instead, when they reject a fact finder’s recommendations, the law requires that the dispute be submitted to a neutral conciliator for final resolution. full story

Union receives clarification on drug testing language from ODOT
March 7, 2003 - The newly ratified contract states that Project Inspectors will be added to the safety-sensitive pool for random drug testing. full story

Union registers split decision on contract;
Security workers' contract sent to conciliation, ratified for others
March 6, 2003 - Rising anger over pay, health care costs, institutional closures and layoffs triggered correction officers and other state security workers to overwhelming reject a tentative labor agreement and put the matter in the hands of a conciliator. full story

Chapter voting results due by noon March 6
March 3, 2003 - Contract balloting ends Thursday, March 6. Call Sheryl Bartolone or Frank Ebner at 800-266-5615.  full story

Chief negotiator applauds bargaining team's job before full house at Columbus contract information meeting
Feb. 28, 2003 - Irwin Scharfeld reiterated Thursday evening to more than 300 members that the OCSEA Bargaining Team overwhelmingly recommended acceptance of the tentative agreement and the fact finder's report. Now, he said, rank-and-file members must take the next step and vote. full story

Bargaining team wins several gains in health care benefits
Feb. 27, 2003 - With the health care bargaining road paved in advance by the union's Joint Health Care Committee members, OCSEA made several advancements for members and their families. full story

Longevity issue clarified; Members will not lose current longevity payments
Feb. 26, 2003 - If you have had questions about longevity, you're not alone. Several members inquired in the MyOCSEA forums and during last evening's contract information session. full story

OCSEA bargaining team accepts fact finder's report, recommends contract package for membership approval
Feb. 26, 2003 - The OCSEA Bargaining Team overwhelmingly voted last week to accept Harry Graham's fact finding report and it has recommended the contract package for membership approval, said OCSEA Chief Negotiator Irwin M. Scharfeld. full story

Fact-finder recommendations delivered; Two issues corrected
Feb. 21, 2003 (updated Feb. 26, 2003) - OCSEA and the State acknowledged this week that two fact finding issues will be corrected on health care benefits and longevity pay. FULL STORY

Voting information now available online by chapter
Feb. 25, 2003 - Be prepared to vote on the contract package at your chapter polls Feb. 26 - March 6. Not sure when or where you're supposed to vote? Log on to MyOCSEA for your chapter voting info. full story

Contract information sessions begin; Impact of voting turnout explored
Feb. 25, 2003- "How are you going to vote?" It's an important question asked in the MyOCSEA forums recently. Another question is on the minds of leaders and activists: "What message is sent to Gov. Bob Taft, state legislators, management and the public when public employee union members do or don't vote on the contract?" full story

Article-by-Article summary of tentative contract package
Feb. 24, 2003 - Not sure what's in the TA and fact finder's report. Look below for a quick summary full story

Bargaining team achieves 9 of 12 contract priorities; Recommends approval of contract package
Feb. 24, 2003 - The following chart summarizes the contract negotiations priorities as established by the Bargaining Council on July 20, 2002. Nine of 12 were achieved. full story

Power-backed OCSEA team stops multiple brutal attacks
Feb. 24, 2003 - This negotiations, OCSEA had to fend off the most brutal attacks it had ever faced at the bargaining table. But, backed by Power Activists, the OCSEA Bargaining Team held their ground and kept some of the State’s most startling takeaways from becoming reality. FULL STORY

Fact-finder recommendations delivered; Members must decide how to vote on total contract package
Feb. 21, 2003 - Harry Graham, a veteran mediator, recommended in the fact-finding report that state employees go without raises for two years but would get a one-time, 2 percent bonus in December 2004. FULL STORY

Review contract package, make informed decision and vote!
Feb. 20, 2003 - Unfortunately, the State has decided it will not honor its verbal agreement with the union to allow contract voting to go a full week beyond the 14-days specified in our mutually agreed upon dispute mechanism. FULL STORY

Three meetings dates moved up; Report all voting results to HQ by noon March 6
Feb. 12, 2003 - Unfortunately, the State has decided it will not honor its verbal agreement with the union to allow contract voting to go a full week beyond the 14-days specified in our mutually agreed upon dispute mechanism. FULL STORY

Tentative Agreement at printer; Review advance online copy now
Feb. 5, 2002 - As fact finding began today, the Tentative Agreement (TA) went to print. In the meantime, OCSEA members may view an advance electronic copy now. FULL STORY

State employees, supporters to hold rally to demand fair union contract from State
Feb. 4, 2003 - State employees represented by OCSEA/ AFSCME Local 11, and their supporters, will hold a rally Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2003 at 5 p.m. at the George V. Voinovich Government Center (242 Federal Plaza West) in downtown Youngstown to demand a fair union contract. FULL STORY

Fact finder to rule on remaining issues
Feb. 3, 2003 - Acting as the Fact Finder, Harry Graham this week will decide the outcome for six remaining issues not settled during bargaining or mediation. FULL STORY

Bargaining Bulletin #9:
Benefits Trust saved, agreements reached on Sub-contracting and Sick Leave as mediation ends; Key issues of Health Care, Wages and Work Force Development going to Fact Finder
Jan. 29, 2003 - Nearly two weeks of mediation drew to a close today amid plenty of distractions. The OCSEA Negotiating Team was distressed last week by Gov. Taft’s dismal State of the State speech, and by the announcements that followed this week of closings of prisons, mental health and mental retardation facilities. full story

Bargaining Bulletin #8: Economic environment worsens, but Negotiating Team successfully defends contract and rights in key areas
Jan. 25, 2003 - Although the jarring talk from Gov. Taft about a pay freeze (old news to those members who have been reading these bulletins) and new spending cuts created an even harsher climate for contract talks, the OCSEA Negotiating Team was remarkably successful by the end of the week in defeating many management-proposed changes to the contract. full story

Members wear black, reflect on bargaining process
Jan. 21, 2003- OCSEA sent a message that bargaining is a serious process, holding major consequences for all state employees and their families. full story

Percentage of voting membership sends loud message about contractual, legal rights
Jan. 21, 2003- An important question has been on the minds of leaders and activists: What message is sent to Gov. Bob Taft, state legislators, management and the public when public employee union members do or don't take the opportunity to vote on the contract? full story

Stop, reflect, and make a statement on Jan. 21
Jan. 17, 2003 - Join your brothers and sisters on Tuesday Jan. 21 at 10 a.m. for the “Reflect on Negotiations” event. Bargaining is a deeply serious event with major consequences for all state employees and their families.
full story

Bargaining Bulletin #7: Negotiations moves into mediation; Healthcare Action Day turns some heads
Jan. 16, 2003 - Management continues to adamantly insist that their main goal is to achieve significant money-saving changes in the contract. They say that whereas in the past, management brought a certain amount of money to the table and it was up to the union to find it, this time they intend to walk away from the table with money and language changes.
full story

Gov. Bob Taft mentions Ohio's "season of sacrifice" in yesterday's Inaugural Speech; Meanwhile negotiators want to "sacrifice" public employee benefits
Jan. 14, 2003 - Bob Taft was sworn in yesterday for a second term as Ohio's governor. Irwin Scharfeld, Ron Alexander, Dave Slone, and Vanessa Tolliver did not go.
full story

Bargaining Bulletin #6: Management delivers shocking Health Care "proposal;"
Bargaining subcommittees continue to debate issues
Jan. 9, 2003 - Ready for a $1.50 per hour pay cut? In essence, that would be the total effect, if management got its way in the next contract with state employee health care benefits. full story

State proposal would shift brunt of costs to employees;
Are you willing to fight for health care? Join us Jan. 14!
Jan. 8, 2003 - While the JHCC has been willing to look at a number of ways to reduce the cost of health care, we are not prepared to take on all the costs. Amplify the union message that OCSEA members are "Willing to fight for health care."  full story

Bargaining Bulletin #5: Chat live on bargaining & health care issues Jan. 7, 8 & 13,
Jan. 6, 2003 - OCSEA Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Irwin Scharfeld will host a scheduled members-only chat regarding bargaining progress and recent attacks on Ohio's collective bargaining laws. Join us Tuesday, 7-9 p.m. Can't make this one? Chat Jan. 8, 7-9 p.m., and Jan. 13, 9-10 a.m., with OCSEA Health Care expert Marianne Steger. full story

Bargaining Bulletin # 4: Share management's "plans" for your future; Agency issues covered
Dec. 19, 2002 - Negotiators shifted their activities somewhat and spent most of the last three days meeting in agency-specific groupings or in Article subcommittees. full story

Bargaining Bulletin #3: "Our Managers Aren't So Great"
Dec. 10, 2002 -Negotiators covered several important topics such as wages, layoffs, furloughs, fines, personal leave, use of temp workers, and union leave. After six days of negotiations, several themes are starting to emerge that are central to these very difficult negotiations. full story

Bargaining Bulletin #2: Negotiations off to difficult start
Dec. 5, 2002 - Unfortunately, this round of bargaining was tainted by the Taft administration’s efforts to undermine public employees and their unions through changes being forced into the capital improvements bill now being considered by the Ohio General Assembly. full story

Bargaining Bulletin #1: Contract proposals exchanged talks
Nov. 27, 2002 - The OCSEA negotiations team and the State exchanged proposals yesterday. The State offered a multitude of take-aways. full story

OCSEA press conference announces start of contract talks
Nov. 26, 2002 - OCSEA and three other state employee unions held a news conference Monday, November 25 at 1 p.m. in the Senate Room at the Hyatt on Capital Square in Columbus to mark the start of contract talks. The OCSEA team exchanges proposals with the State today. full story

Are you ready to fight for Workforce Development?
Nov. 19, 2002 - Workforce Development is a labor/management partnership that OCSEA won in the 2000 contract. Do you realize how it has been strengthened and expanded? Get the facts and be ready to fight to keep it. learn more

Wear Union Power shirts, colors on Nov. 26 as bargaining begins
Nov. 8, 2002 - Wear your Union Power shirts, colors, and stickers on Nov. 26 in support of our bargaining team, as OCSEA and the State of Ohio exchange contract proposals. Get the latest dates on the bargaining schedule. learn more

ODJFS Assembly members surveyed
Oct. 28, 2002 - The ODJFS Assembly has collected input from ODJFS members in preparation for bargaining. Full Story

Bargaining Seminar Oct. 5 looks at proposals, strategies
Oct. 7, 2002 - The OCSEA Bargaining Council and Bargaining Team members met in Dublin for an important event on Oct. 5. Full Story

October events turn up volume on Union Power
Oct. 5, 2002 - Union Power Activists are getting pumped up for their October Union Power events. From rallies, to picnics, to information fairs, to political events, activists are getting the word out that Union Power will be a force to be reckoned with come bargaining. Full Story

OCSEA executive director, president go “one on one” with leadership
Sept. 10, 2002 - Fulfilling their promise to reach out to chapters and districts about their issues regarding bargaining, Executive Director Irwin Scharfeld and President Ron Alexander are hitting the streets and talking with leaders about everything from job security and staffing to Union Power activities.
Full Story

State workers' coalition gears up for bargaining
Sept. 9, 2002 - OCSEA helped coordinate an August meeting of the United Coalition of State Workers (UCSW). A major topic under discussion was health care negotiations. Full Story

Bargaining priorities take shape
July 2002 - OCSEA continues the process of identifying and prioritizing issues for contract negotiations with the State of Ohio. Union leaders used telephone surveys and regional meetings to gather input from members. Full Story

Bargaining Council meets, elects team
June 23, 2002 - Gubernatorial Candidate Tim Hagan (D) spoke to more than 400 OCSEA activists in Columbus on Saturday, July 20. Members had gathered for the annual Presidents Conference and the Bargaining Council Meeting to elect the bargaining team. Find out who is representing your bargaining unit. full story

President's Conference/Bargaining Council Meeting moves negotiations prep forward
June 11, 2002 -The President's Conference/ Bargaining Council Meeting will take place Saturday, July 20, at the Worthington Holiday Inn, 178 Hutchinson Avenue near the intersection of I-270 and U.S. Rte 23 (High Street).    full story

Executive Director talks bargaining power at WAC conference
June 1, 2002 - OCSEA Executive Director addressed members at the June Women's Action Committee conference, stressing the importance of OCSEA's Union Power initiative and voting in November.   full story

Activists rock Columbus at Building Union Power 2 Conference
April 29, 2002 -The second floor of one historic Columbus hotel bursted with shared ideas and renewed energy, as more than 300 OCSEA activists gathered for the Building Power 2 weekend Conference.  full story

Conference workshop, discussion group descriptions announced
April 3, 2002 -Help your chapter get the most out of the Building Union Power 2 Conference experience by planning ahead. Before you arrive for the weekend power-building event, check out the workshop and discussion group descriptions. full story

MyOCSEA launches new health care web section
March 9, 2002 - OCSEA is working to keep members connected during bargaining and beyond on health care issues, says OCSEA Health Care Expert Marianne Steger.   full story

Union leaders gather for Bargaining Advisory Meeting to kickoff negotiations
March 5, 2002 - OCSEA leaders participated in the negotiations kickoff at union headquarters on Saturday, March 2. Presentations and break out activities emphasized the importance of activism as we approach the bargaining table.   full story

Regional meetings offer talk time with chief negotiator
Feb. 28, 2002 - All OCSEA state employee union members have the opportunity to talk face-to-face with Chief Negotiator, Irwin Scharfeld, about top priorities for bargaining at regional meetings held around the state this spring.   full story

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